Weft-replenishing loom.



No. 767,057. PATBNTED AUG. 9, 1904.

' H. I. HARRIMAN.

WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1903.

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N0. 767,057. PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904. H. I. HARRIMAN. WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 31, 1903.

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Patented August 1904;.

aTnurr FFICE.

SSlG-NOR TO THE AMERICAN LOOM COMPANY, OF READVILLE, MASSACl-IUSETTS, A UORPORAJTION OF NEW JERSEY.

WEFT- -REPLENISHING LUQIVI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,057, dated August 9, 1904.

Application filed August 31, 1903. Serial No. 171,365. \No model.)

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Be it known that I, HENRY I. I'IARRIMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in \Veft-Replenishing Looms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates generally to looms of the class in which replenishment of the working weft-supply is effected automatically by mechanism with which the loom is provided when necessity forsuch replenishment arises as, for example, on loss of continuity of the weft or filling that is being interwoven with the waruthreads by the working shuttle on the lay or on exhaustion of the supply of weft or filling that is carried by the said shuttle or on exhaustion of the said supply to a predetermined extent.

In the case of some varieties of looms pertaining to the class aforesaid the replenishment is effected by replacing the spent or failed working shuttle on the lay by a fresh or reserve shuttle. In others in which the yarn-load carried by the working shuttle is contained within aso-called cop-case" which is applied removably to the said shuttle the replenishment is effected by ejecting the spent or failed cop-case from the shuttle and introducing into the latter a fresh or reserve copcase. While in others the replenishment is effected by replacing the spent or failed bobbin or cop within the shuttle by a fresh or re serve bobbin or cop.

The broader features of my invention are applicable to looms of all of the different varieties to which I have justmade reference, while the more specific features thereof are applicable more especially to looms of the varieties in which the replenishment is effected by making change of shuttle or cop-case.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the invention embodied in a loom in which change of cop-cases is effected.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing in front elevation a portion of a loom containing an cmbodii'nent of the invention operating to effect replenishment of the working weft-supply by replacing the spent or failed cop-case in the working shuttle on the lay by a fresh or reserve cop-case. In this view are shown only such of the usual parts of a loom as are needed in order to make clear the relations and. nature of the invention, and only the change end of the loom is represented. Fig. 2 is a View, mainly in elevation, looking from the right-hand side in Fig. 1, with the lay in vertical crosssection and the upper end of the picker-stick broken away. Fig. 3 is a view corresponding with Fig. 2, showing a modified form. of release for the pusher or trans ferrer. Fig. t shows the shuttle in front elevation. Fig. 5 shows the shuttle in vertical cross-section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows a cop-ease separately in plan. Fig. 7

is a view of the cop-case of Fig. 6 in vertical transverse section on the dotted line 7 7 in Fi 6. Fig. 8 is a detail view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, of the picker stick release and its stop-motion connections. Fig. 9 is a view showing knocking-off arrangements which may be employed. Fig.

10 is a view showing the hopper and its support in rear elevation and certain features in connection with the hopper.

Having reference to the drawings, the main frame of the loom is designated 1, the breast beam being marked 2 in Figs. 1 and 10, the So lay-beam being marked 3, one of the layswords being shown at t and the lay rockshaft at 5. The crank-shaft is represented at 6, and one of the pitmen or connecting-rods joining the lay with the crank-shaft is shown 8 5 at 7 in Figs. 2 and The working shuttle on the lay is marked 8 in Figs. 2 and 3, the front plate and back plate of the shuttle-box at the change end of the loom being represented at 9 and 10, respectively. The picker 0 at the change end of the loom is marked 11, Fig. 1, the corresponding picker-stick 12, the stand connected with the lay rock-shaft 5, on which the said picker-stick i2 is pivotally mounted, being shown at 13, the lug-strap connected with the said picker-stick being marked 14, the picking rock-shaft arm, to which said lug-strap is joined, being marked 15, and the picking rock-shaft at the change end of the loom being marked 16.

In Figs. 2 and 3 17 is the usual cam-shaft, carrying the picking-tappet 18, by which the said picking rock-shaft 16 is operated.

In looms in which weft replenishment is effected automatically the weft-replenishing instrumentalities are arranged to operate under the control of weft-indicator or weftdetector mechanism. Various forms and arrangements of weft-indicator or weft-detector mechanisms have been proposed for use in such looms. Any of the forms of such mechanisms which are suitable for the attainment of the desired end may be employed in a loom having applied thereto my invention. For convenience I have illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings the usual arrangement of weft-fork mechanism, comprising, essentially, a weft-fork 19, a slide 20, having the said weft-fork pivotally mounted thereon and itself fitted between guides 21 21 on the breastbeam 2 and adapted to slide in a direction from front to rear in the loom between the said guides, and the gooseneck or weft-hammer 22, operated by the gooseneck-cam 23 on the cam-shaft 17.

At 2 1 is shown an arm having, as heretofore, its upper extremity arranged in line with the front end of the weft-fork slide 20, so as to be pressed forward by the said slide when the latter is advanced in consequence of the engagement of the gooseneck 22 with the tail of the weft-fork 19 on the failure or absence of weft, the arm 2& being mounted on the usual transversely extending rod or rockshaft 25, the latter being represented as mounted, as usual, in bearings, at 26, carried by the breast-beam 2. The operative connections between the transversely-extending rod or rock-shaft 24 and the weft-replenishing instrumentalities will presently be explained.

The body of the shuttle 8 is formed with a chamber 81, Figs. 1 and 5, to contain a copcase. A cop-case 82 is shown in place in the said chamber in Fig. at and separately in Fig. 6. The chamber 81 extends entirely through the shuttle-body in order to permit the copcase to be inserted at one side of the shuttle and be discharged at the other side thereof. In the present instance this chamber extends horizontally through the shuttle-body from the front side of the latter to the rear side thereof, and the operation of replacing the cop-case 82, which is contained within the chamber 81 of the shuttle, by another copcase is effected in the loom which is shown in the drawings by presenting the fresh or reserve cop-case at the forward side of the shuttle and pushingit rearward into the chamber 81. As the said fresh or reserve cop-case enters the chamber 81 it will make contact change end of the loom, the front 9 and back 10 of the said shuttle-box are formedwith openings through which the cop-cases may pass horizontally, as indicated in Fig. 2. The construction and operation in the foregoing respects as regards the-shuttle, the cop-case,

and the mode of changing cop-cases are old and well known. So far as the direction of inserting and discharging the cop-case is concerned it is not material whether in the case of the practical embodiments of certain features of the invention the insertion and discharge take place horizontally or otherwise.

In weft-replenishing looms asupply of fresh or reserve weft is provided in a suitable container or hopper, the latter holding either filled and threaded shuttles or cop-cases or filled bobbins or cops, and from the said container or hopper transfer to the lay is efiected by the action of a pusher or transferrer which is called into operation by the Weft-indicator mechanism. In the present instance at 27 is shown a hopper or container for a series of fresh or reserve cop-cases 82 82. The cop-cases are placed by hand into the top of this hopper 27 and descend by gravity within the latter, the bottom cop-case within the hopper being transferred to the working shuttle on the lay at the required time in the operation of the loom by the action of the pusher or transferrer. The hopper 27 is supported by means of a stand 28, (see more particularly Figs. 1 and 10,) which latter is bolted to the breast-beam at the change end of the loom and rises above the same, the said stand carryinga horizontal outwardly-extending' rod 29, and the hopper 27, having oppo site ears 3O 30, in which are formed transverse holes to fit the said rod 29. In this instance also the bottom of the hopper is located at the front of the lay and in line horizontally with the shuttle-box at the change end, so as to enable the lowest cop-case that is contained within the hopper to be transferred to the working shuttle on the lay when IIO the time for such transfer arrives by a substantially horizontal rearward movement through the usual opening in the rear side of the hopper and through the opening of the front 9 of the shuttle-box.

The pusher or transferrer may vary more or less in construction and in the manner in which it cooperates with the cop-cases and other parts. I have shown in the drawings a pusher or transferrer 31 of an old form, it having a head portion which is shaped toengage in the rearward movement of the pusher or transferrer with the front side of the lowest cop-case in the hopper and impel such copcase rearward in the loom, the said head portion in such movement passing under the next to the lowest cop-case within the hopper and being shaped to support the same and the others resting thereupon during the action of the transferrer in transferring the lowest copcase to the shuttle on the lay and while the pusher or transferrer is returning to its normal or inoperative position at the front of the hopper, after which the cop-cases which were supported by the pusher or transferrer are permitted to descend within the hopper. The said pusher or transferrer comprises, essentially, the said head portion and a carryinglever, which is pivoted at 32, Fig. 2, upon a support with which the loom-frame is pro vided. The transferrer is arrested in its movement toward the lay by the contact of a i stop 311 on the said arm or lever with the 7 the transferrcr.

front of the lay-beam. The said stop is con stituted by a set-screw for purposes of adjustment. In the construction which is illustrated in the drawings while the transferrer occupies its normal forwardly-retracted position (shown in Figs. 2 and 3) the bottom copcase within the hopper rests upon supports which are constituted by curved, lingers 33, projecting forwardly from the lay-beam, and at the time of the transfer to the working shuttle 8 the said cop-case slides along these fingers 33 33 while being moved rearward by The transferrer may be caused to remain normally in its forward inoperative position by the action of gravity and be returned by such action to such position after having been operated to transfer a cop-case. However a contracting spiral spring, as 34, usually is employed, one end of a going parts of the loom (herein the lay) is mounted a bunter 36, which in the present instance is carried by an arm 37, extending down from the lay-beam to the lay rock-shaft, as in Figs. 1, E2, and 3. The forward end of the hunter 36 is notched, as at 361, to engage with the tooth or projection 351 of the dog 35. Normally the dog 35 occupies a position in which its tooth or projection 351 is out of the path. of the hunter 36; but when it is required to actuate the transferrer to. transfer a copcase from the hopper to the working shuttle on the lay the dog 35 is moved so as to place its tooth or projection 351 within the path of movement of the front end of the hunter 36. Having reference to the drawings, it will be seen that if when the lay is in its rearward position the dog 35 is raised a short distance its tooth or projection 351 will be placed in the path of the hunter and in the ensuing forward movement of the lay the notched portion of the hunter will engage with the said tooth or projection, with the result that the dog will be forced forward in the loom, thereby turning the transferreraround its pivot 3 The dog 35 is controlled. as to its position by the weft-fork mechanism through instrumentalities which in the presentinstance comprise an arm 38, which is }l)lVOi76(l to the loom-frame at 39 and projects beneath the dog 35, an arm 40, which is fast on the transverse rod or rockshaft 25 of the weft-fork mechanism, and a connection between the said arms 40 and 38, consisting of a coil-spring n, the spring 41 being employed in orderthat it may yield, and thereby obviate breakage in case the dog 35 is raised at a time when the lay is in an advanced position, with the hunter 36 immediately above the tooth or projection 351 of the dog.

()ne object of the invention is to provide against breakage or injury in a loom employing a hopper or container for reserve weft and a transferrer acting to transfer fl'OlDilliO said hopper or container to the lay whenever the feeding movement of the transferrer is obstructec -as, for example, by the shuttle 3 being misplaced, so that the entrance to its chamber 81 is not presented in proper position to receive the fresh charge of weft which is being fed to the same by the transferrer. In conformity with one part of my invention, therefore, I make provision for enabling the parts to yield in case the transferrer is obstructed in its feeding movement. The yield-. ing action maybe secured in various ways without departing beyond the scope of my invention. I have shown herein two forms, one of which I term a transferrer-release. In the first of these (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) the hunter 36 is contrived to yield. In the other thereof (shown in Fig. 3) the arm or leverof the transferrer is provided with a pivotal support which is capable of giving way when the strain exceeds a predetermined amount. In Figs. 1 and 2 the release is secured by forming the hunter 36 in two relatively movable members, as 3(2. and 363, the member 362 being fixed upon the arm 37 and the member being pivoted at 364 at its rear end to the rear end of the fixed. portion 362. The forward ends of the said fixed and movable members 362 363 are formed with oblique faces, which together constitute the walls of the notch 361. The forward portion of the member 363 is held pressed Witlryielding force against the corresponding portion of the fixed member 362 by means of springs 46 &6, which at their upper extremities are connected with pines-7 4:7, carried by the arm 37, and, at their lower extremities are connected with the movable member 363. The tension of these springs is sufficient to hold the members of the hunter 36 close together, so that ordinarily when the to a split bearing.

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tooth or projection 351 enters the notch at 361 the bunter will act to force the dog 35 forward, so as to actuate the transferrer; but when the movement of the transferrer is opposed by a resistance sufficiently great the power of the springs 46 46 is overcome and the tooth or projection 351 forces its way in between the forward ends of the members 362 363 of the bunter. In Fig. 3 I have shown the pivot 32 of the transferrer applied The latter consists, essentially, of a fixed half 42, which is bolted to the end frame of the loom, and a movable half 43, which is pivotally connected at its rear end with the fixed half 42, the two halves 42 and 43 together providing a socket or bearing which contains the pivot 32 of the pusher. The movable portion 43 of the split bearing is held in closed position with yielding force by the action of a contracting spiral spring 45, one extremity of which is connected with the portion 43 of the split bearing, while the other extremity thereof is connected with a fixed point of attachment on the loom-frame, as at 461. When the head of the transferrer is obstructed in its rearward movement, the pivot 32 forces apart the members of the split bearing and passes forward into the space 462, which is formed in the under portion of the movable member 43, it being retained from passing out of such space at the front end of the latter by the projection 47 on said movable member. It will be apparent that the forms of tran ferrerrelease which are shown in the drawings are also adapted for use in looms in which replenishment is eflected by making change of shuttles or bobbins.

It may happen that a cop-case occupies a position partly within the chamber of the Working shuttle 8 and partly projecting from the latter, so as to engage by the end thereof which is toward the middle of the loom with the corresponding end of the opening in either the front or the back of the shuttlebox. In this case the shuttle will be prevented from leaving the shuttle-box under the action of the picker and picker-stick, and the latter will be prevented from completing their full movement under the action of the picking-tappet. Breakage from this obstruction of the movement of the picker and picker-stick is likely to result. I provide against such breakage by employing a release for the pickingmechanism so arranged as to permit the latter to give way when undue resistance is experienced in effecting a pick of the shuttle 8. In the present instance the said release is constituted of a picker-stick release comprising a split and yielding bearing for the pivot 121 of the picker-stick 12. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 3.) One half of the said split bearing is formed in the stand 13 upon the lay rock-shaft. The other half is formed in the cap 131, which is pivotally connected with the said stand at the outer ends of the said parts, as at 132, the said cap being held closed normally against the stand so as to retain the pivot 121 in place by the action of springs 133 133, which are connected at their upper extremities with projections 134 134 on the upturned inner end of the cap, and at their lower extremities with projections 135 135 on the stand 13. In the event of the shuttle becoming caught, so that it cannot leave the box under the action of the picking mechanism, the springs 133 133 will yield so as to allow the cap 131 to separate sufliciently from the stand 13 to permit the pivot 121 to escape from its bearing in the said parts 13 and 131 and move inward along the space which is formed in the under side of the cap at 136. This will relieve the strain upon the picker-stick. The extent of the inward movement of the pivot 121 is limited by the stop projection 137, with which the cap 131 is provided adjacent its free inner extremity.

For the purpose of causing the loom to be stopped automatically, so as to enable the weaver to remedy the condition of affairs which prevents the shuttle from being driven from the shuttle-box, I provide in conjunction with the release for the picking mechanism suitable stop-motion connections. In'the present instance I employ electromechanical arrangements comprising one or more fixed terminals 51, Figs. land 8, which is embraced in an electric circuit including electromagnetic knocking-off devices, and a movable terminal 52, which is also embraced in the said circuit. The movable terminal 52 is pivotally mounted, as at 53, upon the bracket 54, which is attached to the loom-frame 1. The said movable terminal is connected by a strap 55 or the like with the pivot 121 of the pickerstick. By means of the said strap, so long as the pivot 121 occupies its proper position in the bearing therefor, the movable terminal 52 is held out of contact with the fixed terminal and the circuit is open or broken between such terminals. When, however, the pivot 121 is forced out of its bearing and moves inwardly, the movable terminal 52 is caused to make contact with the fixed terminal 51, and thereby to close the circuit embracing the electromagnetic knocking-off devices. The wire connecting with the fixed terminal, which latter is insulated from the loom-frame, is shown at w. The movable terminal is in circuit through its connection with the loomframe. I In order to insure proper movement of the movable terminal, a suitable spring maybe conveniently applied. In the present instance such a spring is shown at 56, it having one extremity thereof connected with the upturned inner portion of the cap 131 and having connected with the other extremity thereof a strap 57, passing around the lower part of the picker-stick. This spring acts with is afiixed to the lay-beam.

a tendency to carry the lower end. of the The said armature-lever is in operative connection, as by means of a rod :10, with the tilting detent 00 which last is pivoted at :r upon the usual knocking-oil lever a, working in connection with the usual shipper-handle m When the armature is separated from the poles of the electromagnet, the rear end of the tilting detent occupies a position out of the path of movement of a striker m", which hen, however, the electromagnet is excited by the closing of the electric circuit, the armature is moved and transmits movement through rod w to the tilting detent 07, so as to place its rear end Within the path of movement of the striker 11:. As the lay advances toward the breastbeam the striker encounters the detent and through its engagement therewith moves the 'transferrer should be prevented from entering the chamber of the shuttle, the said copcase, it resting upon the supports 33 33, will be caught in the advance of the lay between the shuttle and the cop-case which is now the lowest one in the hopper, the latter cop-case also resting upon the said supports 33, or it may be caught between the shuttle and. some part in connection with the hopper. In order to obviate injury as a result of this oecurrence, the hopper is mounted upon the support therefor with capacity to turn or swing thereon. In the illustrated embodiment, in which the hopper is supported by the horizontal rod 29, the hopper is furnished with ears or brackets in which are formed bearings for the said rod. The hopper is held normally in proper position and returned thereto after being moved therefrom by means of a spring or its equivalent. In the present instance a coil-spring 291, Fig. 10, is placed upon the rod 29, one extremity of the said spring being connected with one of the ears or brackets 30 of the hopper and the other extremity thereof being connected with the collar 292, which is fitted upon the rod 29 and fixed in place thereon by the clamping-screw 293. This spring gives way to permit the hopper to yield to forward pressure exerted at its lower end and afterward acts to return the hopper to its normal position, the rearward movement of the hopper under the action of the spring being limited by the stop 29 1, projecting from the inner end of the hop per and engaging with the upright portion of the stand 28.

F or the purpose of preventing the bottom cop-case in the hopper from issuing prematurely from the opening at the rear of the hopper and from rising in being transferred from the hopper to the shuttle on the lay a bar 61 is extended transversely across the rear of the hopper. The said bar furnished with arms 62 ('52 at its ends, which. are pivotally connected, as at 63, with the ends of the hopper, and for the purpose of holding the said bar presseddown with yielding force a contracting spring 65 is connected witha for wardly-extending portion of one of the said arms and with a fixed portion of the hopper. By the action of the said spring the bar 61 is held normally in position in line horizontally with the upper portion of the rear opening of the hopper, so as to act as a detent for the bottom cop-ease. When such cop-case is forced rearwart lly by the action of the transferrer, the bar 61 yields upwardly, so as to permit of the passage of the cop-case beneath it. A stop (ill (shown in Fig. 10) is applied to the back of the hopper 27 for coaction with the vertically-n1ovable cross-bar (51. This step limits the rising of the said cross-bar in order to hold the latter definitely in a posi tion which shall just permit the cop-case to pass beneath the same in being transferred from the hopper to the lay.

The spent or failed cop-case ejected'ilrom the shuttle 8 passes over a guide 71, projecting rearward ly from the lay,and is discharged into a tray 72, which is suitably mounted upon the lomn-frame.

For the purpose of detecting the complete emptying of the container or hopper 27 in the event of the weaver having neglected to restock or relill the same a feeler or detector, as 811, is provided in connection wit-h the said container or hopper. This feeler or detector in the present instance is mounted pivotally upon the hopper at 821, and its pivot is furnished with an arm 83, having connected therewith one extremity of a contracting spiral spring 8%, the other extremity of which is connected with a lixed point of attachment upon the hopper, as at 85. By the action of the spring 84: the lower end of the feeler carried with yielding force into the interior of the hopper, so as to press against the cop case within the hopper resting at the bottom thereof upon the supports 3;: 33. So long as the hopper contains one or more cop-cases the lower end of the feeler will he held in a forward position by the cop-case which rests upon the said supports. When, however, there is no cop-case within the hopper to prevent the feeler from moving rearwardly in the loom, its lower end passes farther into the hopper. \Vith the feeler is connected electrically the wire 41:, pertaining to the electric circuit einbracing the electromagnetic knocking-off devices. The projection 29a of the hopper constitutes a fixed terminal, it having the wire a? connected electrically therewith. \Vhen the feeler moves as aforesaid under the action of its spring, it makes contact with the said fixedterminal 29%, thereby closing the circuit at this point and causing the knocking-off devices to act to stop the loom.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a weft-replenishing loom, in combination, a transferrer, the lay, a hunter moving with the lay, means to place the transferrer in operative connection with the bunter to cause the transferrer to be actuated, and a transferrer-release whereby to obviate breakage when the movement of the transferrer is obstructed, substantially as described.

2. In a weft-replenishing loom, in combination, a transferrer, a going part of the loom, a dog connected with one of said parts, a yielding bunter connected with the other thereof, and means to occasion engagement between the bunter and dog for the actuation of the transferrer, the bunter yielding so as to obviate breakage when the movement of the transferrer is obstructed, substantially as described.

3. In a weft-replenishing loom, in combination, a transferrer, a going part of the loom, a dog connected with one of the said parts, a bunter connected with the other thereof and consisting of separable members held in working relations with each other by spring-pressure, and means to occasion engagement of said dog and bunter with each other for the actuation of the transferrer, substantially as described.

4. In a weft-replenishing loom, in combination, the lay, the bunter moving therewith and comprising relatively movable members held in working position by spring-pressure,

' the transferrer provided with the dog for engagement with said bunter, and means to occasion said engagement and thereby cause the transferrer to be actuated, substantially as described.

5. In a weft-replenishing loom, in combination, the lay, weft-replenishing instrumentalities and picking mechanism having in connection therewith a release operating when the movement of the picker in picking is obstructed by a filling-carrier left in improper position by the replenishing operation, substantially as described.

6. In a weft-replenishing loom, in combination, the lay, the working shuttle on the lay, weft-replenishing instrumentalities operating to place a fresh load or charge of weft in the said shuttle, and picking mechanism having in connection therewith a release operating when the movement of the picker in picking is obstructed by a filling-carrier left in improper position by the replenishing operation, substantially -as described.

7. In a weft-replenishing loom, in combination, the lay, the weft-replenishing instrumentalities, the picker-stick, means for operating said picker-stick, and a release in connection with the pivotal mounting of the said picker-stick operating to prevent injury when the action of the picker-stick is obstructed by a filling-carrier left in improper position by the replenishing operation, substantially as described.

8. In a weft-replenishing loom, in combination, the lay, the weft-replenishing instrumentalities, the picker-stick, means for operating said picker-stick, and a mounting for the'picker-stick adapted to permit movement of the pivoted end of the picker-stick to obviate breakage when the action of the pickerstick is obstructed by a filling-carrier left in improper position by the replenishing operation, substantially as described.

9. In a Weft-replenishing loom, in combination, the lay, the weft-replenishing instrumentalities, the picker-stick, means for operating said picker-stick, and the separable hearing for the pivot of said picker-stick yielding to release the said pivot when the action of the picker-stick is obstructed by a filling-carrier left in improper position by the replenishing operation, substantially as described.

10. In combination, the picker-stick, means for operating the same, a release in connection with the picking mechanism, operating when the movement of the picker-stick is obstructed, and stop motion devices brought into action when the release operates, substantially as described.

' 11. In combination, the pi cker-stick, means for operating the same, a mounting for the picker-stick adapted to permit movement of the lower end of the latter to obviate breakage, and stop-motion connections made operative through such movement, substantially as described.

12. In combination, the picker-stick, means for operating the same, a mounting for the picker-stick adapted to permit movement of the lower end of the latter to obviate breakage, a normally open or broken electric circuit, and circuit-closing devices in connection with the picker-stick, substantially as described.

13. In a weft-replenishing loom, in combination, the lay, a hopper mounted independently of the lay with its lower end or mouth arranged substantially in line, horizontally, with the shuttle-box of the lay, and capable of yielding to obviate breakage in case an object intervening between the hopper and the lay is driven into contact with the hopper by the advance of the lay, and means to transfer from the hopper to the lay, substantially as described.

14. In a weft-replenishing loom, in combination, the lay, a hopper mounted independently of the lay with its lower end or mouth IIO arrangedsubstantially in line, horizontally, yielding force, and means to transfer lrolnthe with the shuttle-box of the lay and Capable oili' hopper to the lay, slrllistantmlly as ClGSCl'LlJGCl. [O

yielding to obviate breakage in case an object In testimony whereof ll aflix my signature in intervening between the hopper and the lay l presence of two Witnesses.

is driven into contact with the hopper by the HENRY I. HARRIMAN. advance of the lay, a stop to determine the Witnesses: normal rearward position of the hopper and Grins. F. RANDALL,

against which the hopper is pressed with 1 WILLIAM A. COPELAND. 

